Life is either a Daring Adventure or nothing at all... 1st ever Solo trip Dec 2024 PTR

[DenaRox]

I choose Adventure!!​

It's been a hot minute since I had the pleasure of sitting down and typing out a pre-trip report. This trip will be a first for me!
Welcome to my PTR for my first ever solo adventure.







​

Who --> So who am I? My name is Dena. I am a Canadian Disney lover who lurks a lot but I’m getting better at posting

1993 - first Disney trip, a family adventure to WDW.
--> the saddest Disney free 20 years of my life lol
2013 - Walt Disney World. My daughter's 1st Disney trip.
2014 & 2015 we visited Disneyland.
2016 we broadened our adventuring and headed to Tokyo Disney.
—> Then life hit. As it usually does. No Disney trips for us.
2023, I spent my 50th birthday in Tokyo Disney

and that brings us to today
2024 - my first solo trip to WDW.

What & Why --> I have been planning a trip to WDW for a bit now but it was never meant to be a solo trip. Life happened - as it does, and now I’ll be an unaccompanied adult!
Actually it was a 2 part decision. (1) My daughter, my best travel buddy is all Disney'd out. (2) My furbaby, Juggie JuggerBuggers, has diabetes and needs daily insulin shots. So, my DD is staying home caring for her FurBrother & i'm going to step out of my comfort zone and go solo

When --> December 2024!

Where --> A split stay between Allstar Music & Pop Century

Table of Contents:​

The Old Itinerary
Canadian troubles
The Cost
The Official Itinerary
​

 

[DenaRox]

My Itinerary​

Edit - I have changed my itinerary, you can see the new one here
Day 1 - Travel Day. 7:30 AM flights are better than 6:30AM flights lol. One short layover should have me arriving at MCO by 5PM or so.
Shuttle to resort, check in, breathe!!!! then off to Disney Springs. Ooof, it's hard to stop myself from typing Downtown Disney

Day 2 - Epcot. Plan to use Early Entry to get in Remy & Frozen before the park officially opens.

Day 3 - Hollywood Studios. Will use Early Entry & purchase LLMP. Goal during EE is Rise of the Resistance. Will head back to resort to rest and change as it's also a Jollywood night.
Day 4 - No Park Day. Sleep in a bit, swim, do whatever, then MVMCP.
Day 5 - Magic Kingdom. Will use Early Entry & LLMP. Goal is 7 Dwarfs/Tron for EE.
Day 6 - No Park Day. Sleep in a bit, tour the resorts etc.
Day 7 - Animal Kingdom. Early Entry. Goal is Flight of Passage & Navi for EE. Hammer out all i can and then park hop to attempt the 4 parks 1 day!! (resort --> bus to AK --> bus to HS --> Skyliner to Epcot --> Monorail to MK --> bus to resort) with the icon photo, at least 1 ride & one meal/drink per park.

It's a lot. I know it's a busy busy trip, but this is truly an adventure, not a vacation! Open to any and all suggestions or comments. Advice is always welcome!!!

 

[DenaRox]

Slowly but surely!!

 

[DenaRox]

The Troubles of being a Canadian Disney lover!​

• Our Dollar sucks. The exchange rate is horrible & then on top of that there is foreign transaction fees. Like Disney isn't expensive enough already.
• Our country is HUGE! a direct flight would be the equivelent to flying Washington to Orlando, but i do not live in a major hub so there is a layover making it an 8 hr flight. No wonder travel is such hard work, it's an actual work day lol.
• our airlines suck. With such little competition and lax passenger protection regulations, flights cost a whole lot. You also have to fight hard if there are changes, delays or cancellations, and there are always changes! Luckily when i got change notification i was pleasently surprised to have changed to later flights home so instead of leaving on an 8AM flight im now leaving at 6PM. YAY!!
• We cant get the Disney Visa Life would be so grand if I had myself a Disney Visa.
• We do not have any Disney stores. Even when there were stores in Canada i still had to drive 7ish hours to the closet one, but still, NONE SUCKS. Our only option is the Disney website where shipping costs as much if not more than your total purchase.

I don't want to have this post be all negative so i'll end with a positive.

• Coming from a place where the average December temperature is -20C (or -4F for all of you from the USA) Orlando winters are lovely in comparison I will swim! 100% without a doubt you will find me in a pool (at least once) before i head back to the frozen tundra i call home.

 

[HappyGal]

I did my first solo trip in May (my daughter can only take *so* much Disney). And it was so good, I’m doing it again next month. You’re gonna love it!

 

[DenaRox]

I did my first solo trip in May (my daughter can only take *so* much Disney). And it was so good, I’m doing it again next month. You’re gonna love it!

this really helps to put my mind at ease. This will be my first solo trip period. (Minus a 2 night flight to another city to see a concert, which I don’t count because it was land sleep concert sleep home) so I am a mix of excited and nervous. I’m sure during the day I’ll be so meshed with the parks that I’ll have a grand time, it’s the down time in the hotel that worries me. I’ve already told my daughter to expect nightly FaceTimes lol

 

[HappyGal]

I love POP for their evening activities like trivia and boom box bingo! Or Uber over to port orleans riverside to see Yee Haa Bob (awesome piano sing along show). Plenty to do! Or you may want to decompress in your room and go thru all you days pics and work on your trip report. Trust me, you won’t be bored!

 

[DenaRox]

I love POP for their evening activities like trivia and boom box bingo! Or Uber over to port orleans riverside to see Yee Haa Bob (awesome piano sing along show). Plenty to do! Or you may want to decompress in your room and go thru all you days pics and work on your trip report. Trust me, you won’t be bored!

Thank you for the tips and reassurance. It is so appreciated. gentle reminders of just how much there is to do! Lately whenever the negative thoughts and worry start to creep in i ask myself "Would you rather be "lonely" at Disney or at home like always"

It's always Disney lol

 

[HappyGal]

Take us with you on your trip; lots of pics and notes for your TR. You’ll be too busy to be lonely!

 

[DenaRox]

I love POP for their evening activities like trivia and boom box bingo! Or Uber over to port orleans riverside to see Yee Haa Bob (awesome piano sing along show). Plenty to do! Or you may want to decompress in your room and go thru all you days pics and work on your trip report. Trust me, you won’t be bored!

That is an excellent point. I normally journal every trip anyway so might as well do an active trip report. Although I’ve been told, for safety, a solo female should not post on social media until they have finished the trip. What are/were your safety concerns and tips. I think common sense goes a long way but anything beyond that?

 

[gottalovepluto]

That is an excellent point. I normally journal every trip anyway so might as well do an active trip report. Although I’ve been told, for safety, a solo female should not post on social media until they have finished the trip. What are/were your safety concerns and tips. I think common sense goes a long way but anything beyond that?

This is correct. I had a family member who didn’t listen to this rule and picked up a stalker at UOR pre-Covid. Share your journey after.

Common sense safety is pretty much fine at WDW, all the normal rules. Lighted areas, don’t overdo alcohol, lock your hotel room door even if only in for a bit, etc. Disney is honestly a great place for a solo female traveler, even late at night walking back to your room there will generally be others headed back to their rooms as well.

Do you know EE is only 30 mins now? Your EE plans seem a little optimistic, I’d just realize that second ride could be a line you hit around/just after park open.

ETA- you are gonna LOVE solo travel at Disney! It’s a different but awesome experience to do what you want, when you want

 

[DenaRox]

This is correct. I had a family member who didn’t listen to this rule and picked up a stalker at UOR pre-Covid. Share your journey after.

Common sense safety is pretty much fine at WDW, all the normal rules. Lighted areas, don’t overdo alcohol, lock your hotel room door even if only in for a bit, etc. Disney is honestly a great place for a solo female traveler, even late at night walking back to your room there will generally be others headed back to their rooms as well.

All great points. Thank you. I will be blogging the trip in real time (I have a private travel group for family and in real life friends on FB) but will formulate it into a trip report once home ◡̈

Do you know EE is only 30 mins now? Your EE plans seem a little optimistic, I’d just realize that second ride could be a line you hit around/just after park open.

I’m a hardcore itinerary maker and follower and I’m always saying Disney is an adventure Not a Vacation lol. Not uncommon on my Disney trips to be out the hotel door by 6:30 to be at front of lines, BUT being my first solo, I have adjusted my frame of mind already, I’ll make the wild busy plans but will go with the flow and what gets done gets done.

ETA- you are gonna LOVE solo travel at Disney! It’s a different but awesome experience to do what you want, when you want

I’m really excited to step out of my comfort zone and explore my own company ◡̈ Hoping this will be the start of a new annual tradition

 

[DLo]

Following along . Looking forward to reading more . I have done several solo Disney trips and always felt safe but also agree be aware of your surroundings. My next one is in February- can’t wait.

 

[tamitru32]

I've always wanted to try 4 parks in 1 day so will be following how it goes! Yay!

 

[jimmymc]

Solo trips are awesome, I think you'll have a lot of fun and get more done than you can imagine.

 

[DenaRox]

Following along . Looking forward to reading more . I have done several solo Disney trips and always felt safe but also agree be aware of your surroundings. My next one is in February- can’t wait.

Thanks for the follow ◡̈ I love hearing others rave about solo trips. It really puts my nerves to rest ◡̈

I've always wanted to try 4 parks in 1 day so will be following how it goes! Yay!

Thanks for the follow ◡̈ I am excited to give it a go. I know it will be a great last day regardless of the outcome.

Solo trips are awesome, I think you'll have a lot of fun and get more done than you can imagine.

I am excited and nervous. I have never travelled alone (minus one 2 day trip to see a concert) and I’m going to miss my daughter terribly as she is my travel companion and Disney park bestie but I’m also quite excited to do whatever I want whenever I want.

 

[DenaRox]

My last “rant” about being a Canadian Disney lover inspired this post…

The cost of a Solo Disney Trip​

…. In Canadian Dollars​

• Flights: my flights cost me $872CAD ($645USD)​

In actuality I only paid $170 ($125USD). How did I manage this amazing deal you might ask? Well a while ago I flew to New Orleans and was bumped from my seat. Was given $3000USD online visa as compensation, gave out Xmas gifts like I was Oprah herself. You get a gift, you get a gift… it was a good Xmas. I gifted myself a $1000 Westjet gift card which I used for majority of the flight (minus seat selection fees that I added on as an afterthought).

• Disney Package: $2140 USD ($2885CAD) ​

This includes a 7 night split stay at ASMu & POP and 4 day tickets with hopper. It was about $300USD more with no hopper tickets but then deals came out so price decreased yay!! I have been buying $50CAD Disney gift cards at least once a month (sometimes twice) so the whole purchase was made with gift cards… girl math= paid $0,

• MVMCP & Jollywood tickets: $370USD ($500CAD)

The plan was just to purchase MVMCP tickets but with the money I got back from package deals I decided why not!

• Memory Maker: $185USD ($250CAD)

I went back and forth about if I wanted it, if it was worth it just for me? I chatted with other Disney solo fans and in the end I decided I didn’t want my memories to just be a bunch of selfies.

• Mears Shuttle: $32USD ($45CAD) return

I know Lyft would be faster but I never do parks on first day so I think I’ll feel more comfortable with the public vs a solo driver.


Total spent (so far):
USD = 645+2140+370+185+32‎ = 3,372
And in Canadian it works out to approx.
CAD = 872+2885+500+250+45‎ = 4,552
So being a Canadian cost me an extra $1180
I know I still have to set money aside for meals, LLMP&LLSP, and any gifts or souvenirs I get. I have saved $750 in my USD savings account that I could bring, plus I still have $420CAD ($310USD) on my Disney gift card to use in parks or to purchase LL’s or whenever. Am I missing anything? How much do you think I will need once there? I don’t plan to do any big table service meals, I’m a quick service, or lounge seating kind of gal and I prefer snacking over big meals. I don’t want to bring more than I need because I will for sure spend it hahaha but I also don’t want to be too frugal and end up having to use my credit card because those fees are ᴖ̈

 

[DenaRox]

My dining reservation booking time opens up tomorrow and I’ve been going back and forth over where I want to eat. It was causing me such stress because I didn’t want to miss out somehow until I realized that I don’t care !!!

I have decided that I’m skipping dining reservations all together.
The 2 main thing troubling me were being tied down (want to eat when I want to eat and play when I want to play lol) and long sit down meals as a solo visitor.

The new plan is to bring snacks ( I’m a muncher), order food, and hit up lounges if I need a sit down. That being said, hit me up with all your favourite lounges in the parks. I’ve got a little list going but would love to add more choices ◡̈

The List​

Hotels:

• Three Bridges at Gran Destino
• Sanaa at AKL has a lounge/bar
• Steakhouse 71 has a lounge/bar
• Crews Cup at Yacht Club (restaurant is Yachtsman)
• Tambu at Poly
• Geyser Point at Wilderness Lodge
• Territory Lounge at WL has food
• Victoria Falls at AKL has food

Parks:

Epcot:

• Space 220

Animal Kingdom:

• Nomad
• Yak & Yeti

Hollywood Studios:

• Brown Derby patio

Magic Kingdom:


Disney Springs:

• Jock Lindsay's
• Homecoming has a lounge
• Boathouse

I will research more but recommendations would be grand.

 

[DenaRox]

Small update
I think hitting the 30 day mark kicked in all kinds of anxiety and I kind of freaked out a bit. Re-evaluated every park plan and every potential version and nothing felt right. Called Disney and added an extra park day. So here I sit with a 5 day hopper and no actual idea where I am going each day lol

What is locked in:
Sunday - Epcot ( have space 220 res)
Monday HS/Jollywood
Tuesday no parks/MVMCP

Maybe:
Wed 4 park day ending in MK
Thurs AK
Fri - last day, MK & hop to Epcot or HS

Ahhh I have no idea I am leaning heavily to make my MK day one of the party days for the lower crowds. It is not a top park for me so I’m ok with having its day end early and then I can just do the 4 park day on a non party day and end in MK for the fireworks. Does that even make sense????

I’m going to take this weekend to really sit down and come up with a solid plan to utilize this extra day.

 

[cheryllarsen]

Oh how exciting for you!